It may just be because I live in a part of the country with a lot of people from India, but I feel like Diwali has been gaining in awareness in the past few years and is becoming a holiday that more people acknowledge if not celebrate on their own.
If you want to learn more about Diwali to share with your kids, there are a lot of great books on the subject. Diwali by Sital Gorasia Chapman, illustrated by Darshika Varma, is a cute picture book that follows siblings Sonali and Jay as they prepare for the holiday.
To give an overview of the holiday and the story, Diwali is known as the festival of lights and is celebrated over five days (the exact days vary). The book walks through the days and different things that are done, such as cleaning to invite wealth into the home, making rangoli and diyas (this book calls them divas, though I generally see the spelling with a y in English), preparing sweets and other food, going shopping for new clothes and decorating the home.
Because Diwali is celebrated on the new moon, lots of lights and colorful decorations are involved, as well as lots of food. It’s a time for family to get together, celebrate and eat. The celebration ends with fireworks representing the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.
The next day is the new year, time to wear those new outfits, have a special meal and open presents. They visit the temple and give food offerings to the gods. There are more gatherings with food, family, friends and gifts, and sharing treats with neighbors.
The final day is a celebration of the bond between siblings, and they exchange gifts and spend time together.
After the story wraps up, there is more general information about Diwali and its meaning, the use of the lunar calendar and the stories that are told at Diwali (different parts of the country tell different stories about different demons being defeated). There are instructions for making a diva out of salt dough and a rangoli made with beans and grains, as well as a recipe for shrikhand, a yogurt dessert made with saffron and pistachios.
There’s also a quiz at the back so you can test your knowledge of Diwali.
This book is really cute and should engage kids to learn about the holiday. The crafts and recipes are easy and would be fun to try in the classroom or at home.
About the book: 48 pages, hardcover. Published 2024 by words & pictures. Suggested retail price $14.99
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